Monday, June 8, 2026
ADVT 
International

Sikh Man Kicked Out Of Wimbledon Queue For 'Making People Uncomfortable'

IANS, 13 Jul, 2016 12:45 PM
    A 20-year-old Sikh man was kicked out of an overnight queue to watch the Wimbledon tennis championships as he apparently made other people around him "uncomfortable".
     
    Govindpal Kooner took to Facebook last week to voice his anger at being thrown out and claimed it was an act of racism, cases of which have reported a rise in the wake of Britain's vote to leave the European Union (EU).
     
    He wrote on Friday: "Kicked out of the overnight camping line for centre court Wimbledon line 'because you make some people around you uncomfortable, so we're gonna have to report you and ask you to leave immediately, sir'".
     

    "Post-Brexit racism and the overt rise of neo-facism. Please advise how best to report this," he said.
     
    The sportsman who himself dreams of playing professional tennis was eventually allowed to enter the ground after re-queuing in the line a few hours later and made an official complaint about his treatment.
     
    "I felt awful. I felt like I should've fought and negotiated but I backed down and silently left. I don't feel like I'm ever going back now. It's still one of my favourite tournaments but can no longer definitively say it's a lifelong dream to play on centre court," he was quoted as saying by Metro.
     
    Dozens of people responded to his post saying he should report the "discrimination" to police.
     
    A Wimbledon spokesperson said: "We can confirm that a gentleman was asked to leave the queue at 4.42 am this morning (Friday) after a number of complaints from his fellow queuers about his behaviour."
     
    He has previously been warned about his conduct in The Queue on up to six separate occasions during this year's Championships.
     
    "We do acknowledge, however, that in this instance the event safety staff could have provided a better explanation to him. Happily, the same person has been in the Grounds today (Friday) watching the tennis," he said.
     
    But the man insists he did nothing that would warrant being escorted off the grounds, was not intoxicated, loud or aggressive and had not been previously warned about his behaviour.

    MORE International ARTICLES

    New Zealand Students Learn Kathak For Arts Contest

    New Zealand Students Learn Kathak For Arts Contest
    A group of girl students in New Zealand has learned the Indian classical dance Kathak as part of a wearable arts contest that draws big sponsors from around the country's North Island region

    New Zealand Students Learn Kathak For Arts Contest

    Slammed Indian Grandfather Sureshbhai Patel Testifies At US Cop's Trial

    Sureshbhai Patel, 57, was called to the stand as the trial of former police office Eric Parker, 26, began in a Huntsville, Alabama federal court

    Slammed Indian Grandfather Sureshbhai Patel Testifies At US Cop's Trial

    Bobby Jindal Blames Republicans For Obama Victory On Iran Deal

    Indian-American Republican presidential hopeful Bobby Jindal has blamed his party's lawmakers for getting badly outplayed in their efforts to sink President Barack Obama's nuclear deal with Iran.

    Bobby Jindal Blames Republicans For Obama Victory On Iran Deal

    US Cop Put On Trial For Slamming Down Indian Grandfather Sureshbhai Patel

    US Cop Put On Trial For Slamming Down Indian Grandfather Sureshbhai Patel
    Eric Parker, 26, is accused of using excessive force against an unarmed Sureshbhai Patel and charged with violating his civil rights.

    US Cop Put On Trial For Slamming Down Indian Grandfather Sureshbhai Patel

    Man Fined 500 Pounds For Racial Abuse At Indian Restaurant In Ireland

    Man Fined 500 Pounds For Racial Abuse At Indian Restaurant In Ireland
    Desmond Bell from Park Avenue, Northern Ireland, who allegedly turned up drunk at Raba restaurant on August 31, became aggressive and started hurling abuses at the staff.

    Man Fined 500 Pounds For Racial Abuse At Indian Restaurant In Ireland

    RCMP To Charge Syrian Officer In Maher Arar Torture Case, Lawyer Says

    RCMP To Charge Syrian Officer In Maher Arar Torture Case, Lawyer Says
    Lawyer Paul Champ says while the colonel's whereabouts are unknown, the charges represent the culmination of a decade-long RCMP investigation.

    RCMP To Charge Syrian Officer In Maher Arar Torture Case, Lawyer Says